Pup eager to keep the runs flowing

PLEASED, but not entirely, with how he took his unexpected
opportunity in the first Test, Michael Clarke is determined to make
more of his second chance in Adelaide from Friday as he strives to
keep Australia's two-spinners option on the backburner.

Clarke had given himself little chance of being picked for the
first Test, with selectors having indicated they were throwing
themselves wholeheartedly behind all-rounder Shane Watson this
summer, a move which also allows them to play two spinners. But
Clarke was brought into the team when Watson strained his
hamstring.

Having had his Test career fall off track when dropped last
summer, and having failed to perform as an injury substitute in two
Tests in Bangladesh in April, Clarke was desperate to succeed. He
produced an impressive 56 off 94 balls in his only innings, for his
third straight half-century against England following their tour
game against NSW.

A nervous starter, Clarke was slightly scratchy at first, being
beaten first ball by Andrew Flintoff and surviving a caught-behind
appeal in the process. He ended up losing his wicket in the last
over before tea, driving outside off stump to be caught at slip off
paceman James Anderson.

But in between there was enough from Clarke to suggest he was
not far away from top form. The nimble footwork that marked his
spectacular entry to Test cricket appeared to be there again,
particularly with a thumping straight six and lofted four over
mid-off in quick succession off spinner Ashley Giles.

Clarke realised there was little pressure on him from a team
score perspective when he arrived at 4-407. But the prospect of
failing when conditions were going the batting team's way, as he
strove to again cement his place in the side, meant the pressure he
felt was substantial.

"I was very happy with the way I batted. We already had lots of
runs on the board, but personally I was happy to have made a
half-century," he said. "The fact we had lots of runs on the board
meant there was probably more pressure on me. I was looking forward
to getting out there again and I thought I hit the ball pretty
well. I would have liked to have gone on with it, but I was happy I
hit the ball pretty well. If you got 56 every time you batted you'd
have a pretty good average.

"When I went out there it was just after the second new ball and
it was tough early. I had to work hard. I was a bit disappointed to
get out when I did. The ball swung away a bit, but the most
disappointing thing was that it was just three balls before tea. I
had been hoping to get to the break and then go on with it."

Clarke had a long talk with his friend Watson in the dressing
room after the all-rounder was ruled out of Adelaide. He can
sympathise, but is still determined to make a bigger contribution
in Adelaide, which should ensure Watson is still on the outer come
the third Test in Perth.

"I'd imagine they would've picked Watto if he was fit for
Adelaide," Clarke said. "He's obviously disappointed and I feel
sorry for him For me, Adelaide, if I get picked, will be
about again trying to make the most of my opportunities. I'll want
to put my head down and try and score a big one. It's all about
getting runs on the board and trying to put a case to the
selectors, which will make it hard for me to be dropped."